Agenda item - Wecock Farm Development

Purpose

1. To seek approval from the Cabinet Member for Housing and Preventing Homelessness to deliver a mix of 28 new council house dwellings within the Wecock Farm estate, Havant.

2. To seek approval of a capital spend of £8.1m delivering 28 new council housing dwellings to be held in the Housing Revenue Account.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member

1. Approves Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Expenditure of £8.1m, to deliver 28 new council housing dwellings.

2. Notes that the Capital Expenditure of £8.1m requested for this scheme is based on estimated costs from industry cost analysis of a Passive house model.

3. Notes that this development will be a pilot scheme designed and built adopting the principles of the Improved Energy Efficiency Standards For New Build Council Homes this will include bringing a report to this meeting at the completion of the following phases to report on progress and learning; design phase, construction phase and operational phase.

4. Delegates authority to the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services in consultation with the Director of Finance and Resources to amend the composition, design standard and spending profile of the proposed scheme in order to meet planning and design requirements whilst ensuring that the scheme remains financially viable following any necessary changes.

5. Delegates the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services in consultation with the Director of Finance and Resources to apply for any grant funding to support the scheme and also to agree the use of either Grant funding or 141 receipts to support the scheme

DECISIONS

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Preventing Homelessness

1. Approved Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Expenditure of £8.1m, to deliver 28 new council housing dwellings.

2. Noted that the Capital Expenditure of £8.1m requested for this scheme is based on estimated costs from industry cost analysis of a Passive house model.

3. Noted that this development will be a pilot scheme designed and built adopting the principles of the Improved Energy Efficiency Standards For New Build Council Homes this will include bringing a report to this meeting at the completion of the following phases to report on progress and learning; design phase, construction phase and operational phase.

4. Delegated authority to the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services in consultation with the Director of Finance and Resources to amend the composition, design standard and spending profile of the proposed scheme in order to meet planning and design requirements whilst ensuring that the scheme remains financially viable following any necessary changes.

5. Delegated the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services in consultation with the Director of Finance and Resources to apply for any grant funding to support the scheme and also to agree the use of either Grant funding or 141 receipts to support the scheme.

Jo Bennett, Head of Business Relationships, Growth & Support, presented the report, together with Wayne Layton, Finance Manager.

Members welcomed the report, noting it was good to see council homes built on council land. Infill building in gaps in estates can be a complex issue but Wecock Farm is an example of a development that will make a positive contribution to the local community.

In response to questions from members, officers explained that the site had not been included in the Local Plan due to the timeline. As officers work with Havant Borough Council on this type of development they will identify sites that may not previously have been considered for development. The main consideration is to balance additional development with a sense of community.

Discussions with Havant over the number of homes nominated to them will consider the site as a whole and what they need. It is more powerful to ask what Havant needs rather than allocating them a set number of homes.

The Design phase will show the benefit of using in-house expertise; the development is a learning experience for all involved.

£8.1m is the maximum figure for the cost of the development. Officers will have to check the development is still viable if the affordable homes grant funding from Homes England is not received. If the development was costed at social rent level it would not be viable. The cost was pitched as it was as officers are trying to ensure the most capacity to achieve Passive House standards. When officers have more information at the completion of the Design phase there can be more detailed discussions about cost and viability. Current costs are based on industry estimates rather than fully worked up designs.

Maria Cole said it was good to see new homes being built and the council working with Havant, rather than competing with them. Officers said they would look at the needs of people on the waiting list and it was highly likely the development would include adapted properties.

Summing up, Councillor Sanders requested that the development should be as green as possible and rents as low as possible though this may entail compromises and uncomfortable decisions. He noted that all costs are ceilings, not floors, as he does not want to request more money. He thanked officers for the report.